Shirley Bassey: oppinions sought

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One of the best things to come out of England purely for History repeating .

― anthony, Tuesday, 31 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Say more

― mark s, Tuesday, 31 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I wonder if Shirley Bassey is deliberately singing in that over-the- top style just to be outrageous. It seems to me she is, she truly pushes the envelope for histrionics in a pop context. I heard an LP at a friend's house called "Shirley Bassey is Really Something" (some title there) that had several unbelievable tracks, including a version of "Something" that was crazed. She's considered to be a supper-club type singer? I can only imagine spilling food all over myself if she was belting in my ear during a meal. While it's all a bit camp, I'd check out that "Something" LP if you want to hear some suprising, wild, and LOUD vocals.

Calling her "one of the best things to come out of England" is pushing it, however.

― Sean, Tuesday, 31 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Cos not England?

I think that some of the material / arrangements are probably good. BUT I just don't like her voice, at *all*. For that reason, almost literally unlistenable, I'm afraid.

― the pinefox, Tuesday, 31 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

As a sixties diva fan, I have some of her stuff, and I guess I should listen to it more. Like Sean, the voice is (or was) a little OTT for me. Lately, however, I've developed a real appreciation for her version of "Light My Fire", which seems to suit her voice very well. It makes me wonder what other gems I'm missing. I do like "Goldfinger" as well.

― Kerry, Tuesday, 31 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

As far as her recent output... It was pretty interesting and cool at the time to hear her guest on "History Repeating", but the newer record with all electronica backing... thumbs down. It was a nice novelty at first, but you can only have so many "jazzy" electronica tracks with very similar vocals.

― Bobby D. Gray, Tuesday, 31 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

The song I meant to reference on that album is "Spinning Wheel", not "Something". And I do think it has "Light My Fire" on it as well... hmmm, considering I heard that album only once a few years ago, it sure seems to have burned itself into my conciousness... maybe I should look for it. As if the neighbors don't think I'm out of my mind as it is...

― Sean, Tuesday, 31 July 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

i would roll myself in mountains of her toe-jam if it brought me closer to the great teacher of us all, Miss Shirley Bassey

― Geoff, Wednesday, 1 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I have to confess to not knowing an awful lot about Shirley Bassey's music. I do remember one of my grade school teachers playing the theme from Goldfinger, with her singing "gold-FEEEEEEEN-ger!" I thought it was a (dirty) joke (I was 15, in full Beavis and Butthead mode). I also had no idea that she was a gay icon.

― Tadeusz Suchodolski, Wednesday, 1 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

With a voice like that , Darling of course she is beloved by sissies eveywhere.

― anthony, Wednesday, 1 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

watched Billie Holiday biopic on BBC2, then coincidentally turned straight over for "The Real Shirley Bassey" on C4. Dumb scheduling really, because by comparison zero (less than zero) marks to Shirley Bassey as a singer, and as the program went on I also felt a frosty indifference to the ol' fluffy cabaret act creeping on. This has now flowered into venomous, full blown hatred and I have booked my first panic-management class at the clinic.

So yes: unlistenable.

― Alasdair, Wednesday, 1 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Like you, A., I watched first Billie H. and then Shirley last night by chance. And then _Bottom_ on UK Gold, what a combo. ;-)

Count me in as someone who knows little of her work but who has enjoyed what's been heard, and last night provided further examples. One of my favorites from her, though, wasn't mentioned, and in fact is a good contrast to her more expected OTT approach -- her third and so far final Bond theme, "Moonraker." Delivered with wonderful restraint and subtlety, as is the great music from John Barry -- worth seeking out.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 1 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Dymaxia maybe you' dbe interested in my "Light My Fire " covers collection

― Mike Hanle y, Wednesday, 1 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Really? Who is on it? Jose Feliciano...and who else? I'm seriously curious.

― Kerry, Wednesday, 1 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

nineteen years pass...

Dame Shirley Bassey’s photoshoot to celebrate her new album are WILD. I am obsessed. pic.twitter.com/VYf8I1drOD
— Grant Tucker (@GrantTucker) October 16, 2020

― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 16 October 2020 16:03 (three years ago) link

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